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July 26 – According to a report by The New York Times, US President Trump has shelved plans for a significant escalation of military action against Iran. Trump is concerned that an escalation could dangerously deplete the Pentagons already dwindling stockpile of Patriot missile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East. The report states that government officials indicated that the strain on interceptor stockpiles is one of many factors making a resumption of large-scale military action extremely risky. Furthermore, Trump and his senior advisors are also uneasy about the potential for a escalation of the Middle East conflict, the possible alienation of key Gulf allies vulnerable to Iranian attacks, a global economic shock, and a worsening energy and refugee crisis.On July 26th, Huang Renxun discussed the US-China AI competition in an interview with foreign media on July 25th. He stated that outstanding talent will always find excellent solutions, and China is destined to produce excellent AI technology; therefore, China should continue to learn from and cooperate with them.July 26 – The latest epidemic report released by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 25 shows that the cumulative number of confirmed cases of Ebola in the country has risen to 3,075, with 1,354 deaths. Data shows that as of July 24, a total of 755 patients were receiving isolation or hospitalization treatment, and the cumulative number of recovered cases was 556. The outbreak has spread to five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Chowpo.On July 26, Australian Prime Minister Barnes stated that he would raise the issue of tariffs with US President Trump. This comes after Washington imposed new tariffs on trading partners, including Australia. The Labor government, led by Barnes, has called the tariffs unreasonable and expressed its desire for their removal. When asked if he would discuss the issue with Trump, Barnes replied, "Of course." "We will raise this issue at all levels of the Australia-US relationship, and in fact, we have already done so."July 26 – According to Politico, as the US-Iran conflict continues, Arab countries suffering retaliatory attacks from Tehran are attempting to unite and find a path to peace. However, long-standing contradictions are hindering this process. In recent weeks, senior officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have publicly posed for photos together, demonstrating a thaw in relations; Jordan and six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have also held talks at the US State Department and Capitol Hill; and the GCC has issued several joint statements condemning Irans attacks. However, several Arab diplomats, current and former US officials, and people familiar with the regional situation say that while these countries all want to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, their differing priorities in how to achieve this goal are hindering substantial progress. These differences include a series of conflicting interests, such as which countries possess alternative shipping lanes, which countries have the deepest infrastructure ties with Iran, and which countrys economy will suffer the greatest losses in the current crisis. An Iraqi official stated, "They are working together to visit the U.S. Congress and the State Department to coordinate their messaging. But they are not on the same page." The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, already had numerous internal divisions before the current conflict, and the war with Iran is further amplifying these contradictions. "They have many issues to resolve, and this war has exacerbated the existing divisions in the Gulf region," said David Schenker, former U.S. State Department director for Middle East affairs.

Crypto winter may temper fintech earnings

Jimmy Khan

Aug 04, 2022 14:41

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Wall Street has lowered earnings expectations for once high-flying fintechs Coinbase and Block, as a chill in the cryptocurrency market adds more pain to the companies already grappling with surging costs and rapidly rising rates.


Crypto exchange Coinbase is expected to report an adjusted loss in the second quarter, while Jack Dorsey-led payments company Block is likely to post a 70% drop in adjusted profit.


Coinbase, which has the biggest exposure to crypto volatility, has lost more than three quarters of its market capitalization this year.


“For Coinbase, this is going to be a very difficult 12 to 18 months,” said Dan Dolev, senior analyst, fintech equity research at Mizuho Securities USA.


Block, which changed its name from Square last year to better reflect its focus on blockchain, has lost over half of its market value amid the stock market rout this year.

The context

The cryptocurrency selloff has dragged down multiple companies in the sector, with some even seeking bankruptcy protection. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, has nearly halved in value in the first seven months of the year.


“There could be potential for double digit headcount reduction (at Coinbase) at some point because the cost is too high,” Dolev said.


Estimate cuts and competitive pressures are also contributing to the weakness in fintech stocks, according to Credit Suisse analysts.


The cryptocurrency sector may be slowly emerging from a bruising selloff, but they still have to contend with regulatory hurdles in the United States, the biggest market for such assets.


Online trading app Robinhood Markets Inc reported a 44% plunge in second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected, and said it would also cut 23% of its workforce.